Leeds

Practical Info about Leeds

Getting around the city

Leeds has a good bus system that serves the city and much of West Yorkshire. Day passes are good value for travellers, and can be bought for £5.40 on the bus. The LeedsCityBus loops around the city centre, passing every 6-7 minutes. It is a slow, but scenic, way to get around the city and see the sights, operating on a hop-on, hop-off capacity for 50p a ride. For visitors staying in the city centre, the easiest way to get around Leeds is on foot. Central Leeds is mostly pedestrianised, making car travel impractical. Taxis are available, with pre-booked taxis generally cheaper than the black and white cabs that can be hailed on the street. A fare within the city centre is around £3-7.

Time

GMT (GMT +1 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October).

Electricity

The electrical current in the UK is 230 volts, 50Hz. Flat three-pin plugs are standard.

Currency

The currency is the British Pound (GBP), which is divided into 100 pence. ATMs are available in all towns and Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted; visitors with other cards should check with their credit card companies in advance. Foreign currency can be exchanged at bureaux de change and large hotels, however better exchange rates are likely to be found at banks.

Communication

The international country dialling code for the UK is +44. Mobile phone coverage is extensive using GSM 1800 networks, which may not be compatible with some dual-band US cell phones. Internet cafes are available in all major towns and cities, train stations and airports.

Public holidays

Climate

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Leeds experiences typical English weather with a mixture of gloriously sunny days and overcast weather. During the summer (May to September) Leeds has plenty of sunshine with mild weather and average temperatures between 47°F (9°C) and 68°F (20°C), while winters can be long, damp and cold, with snow and frost common, and temperatures ranging from 32°F (0°C) to 44°F (7°C). Spring is the best time to visit Leeds as the weather tends to be fairly mild from March to May.

Leeds Bradford International Airport

Getting to the city

The MetroConnect bus services run every 30 minutes from the airport to Leeds and Bradford city centre bus and rail stations, calling at all metro stops along the way. Trains are also available to and from Leeds City Rail Station, from where connections can be made to all parts of the UK.

Car rental

Avis, Europcar and Hertz are represented in International Arrivals.

Airport taxi's

Arrow Cars are available from the airport taxi rank outside the terminal building.

Facilities

Facilities at the airport include banks, ATMs, bureau de change and a tourist information and hotel reservations desk. There are also shops, bars, restaurants and a children's play area. The Executive Lounge on the first floor of the Departure Lounge offers a full bar service, complimentary newspapers, fax machine and telephone. Entry to the lounge is through membership of the Yorkshire Executive Lounge or a once-off entry fee of £14. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should contact their airline in advance.

Parking

There is short- and long-term car parking available. Parking can be booked in advance on the airport website. There is a courtesy bus service between the long-stay car park and the terminal building from 5:30am to 10pm, seven days a week. Passengers should allow extra time to park and get to the terminal. Short-term parking at Leeds Bradford is charged at £2 for the first half hour, £5 for an hour, £7.50 for two hours, £10 for three hours, £18 for six hours, and £24 per day, and is located directly in front of the terminal building. Long-term rates are £35 for two days.